Economic organizations concerned with Romania's internal and external economic activities include the Romanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania. In 1992 the Council for National Minority Affairs was formed for the discussion of minority issues. The organization helps the government formulate policies favorable to the minorities of the country. The body is headed by the Secretary General of the government. Representatives from 16 officially recognized minorities groups and 12 government ministries make up the organization.

There are also many cooperatives in key sectors of the economy. Many Romanian farmers belong to the private Farmers' Federation. In total there are 4,000 farming cooperatives and 41 district unions. A large cooperative located in the manufacturing and consumers sectors of the economy is the Central Union of Commerce and Credit Cooperative. In total, there are over 2,500 production and 850 credit cooperatives. Another important cooperative is the Central Union of Handi Craft Cooperatives. There is also an active Association for the Protection of Consumers.

The Romanian Academy was founded in 1866 to promote public interest, education, and research in scientific fields. Civitas Foundation for the Civil Society, established in 1992, sponsors community development and social programs promoting an open, democratic society. Other social action groups include the League for the Defense of Human Rights in Romania and the Women's Association of Romania. The Red Cross is active.

National youth organizations include the Free Youth Association of Bucharest, the League of Students, National Union of Independent Students of Romania, Romanian Council of Churches-Youth Unit, The National Scout Organization of Romania, and YMCA/YWCA.

Perhaps the most famous historical figure in what is now Romania was Vlad (1431?–76), a prince of Walachia who resisted the Turkish invasion and was called Tepes ("the impaler") and Dracula ("son of the devil") because of his practice of impaling his enemies on stakes; he was made into a vampire by Bram Stoker in his novel Dracula. The first leader of Communist Romania was Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej (1901–65), who held the office of premier from 1952 to 1955 and of president of the State Council from 1961 until his death. Nicolae Ceausescu (1918–89) was general secretary of the Communist Party between 1965 and 1989 and head of state from 1967 to 1989; his wife, Elena (1919–89), was a member of the Permanent Bureau of the Executive Committee of the Communist Party.

Ion Heliade-Radulescu (1802–72) founded the Bucharest Conservatory and the National Theater and became first president of the Romanian Academy. Mihail Kogalniceanu (1817–91), a leading statesman in the early Romanian monarchy, inaugurated modern Romanian historiography. Vasile Alecsandri (1821–90) was a leader of the traditionalist school of writers, which sought its inspiration in the Romanian past rather than in imitations of foreign writers. Mihail Eminescu (1850–89) is regarded as an outstanding poet, famous for romantic lyricism. His friend Ion Creanga (1837–87) drew from folklore and wrote with a gaiety and gusto recalling Rabelais. The nation's greatest playwright was Ion Luca Caragiale (1852–1912), who excelled in social comedy; an internationally famous Romanian-born playwright, Eugène Ionesco (1912–94), settled in Paris in 1938. Mihail Sadoveanu (1880–1961) was an important novelist in the period between the two world wars. Romanian-born Elie Wiesel (b.1928), in the United States from 1956, is a writer on Jewish subjects, especially the Holocaust, and a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986. Romanian-born Mircea Eliade (1907–86) was a scholar in comparative religion and comparative mythology, in the United States from 1948. Romanian-born Tristan Tzara (1896–1963), a literary and artistic critic who settled in Paris, was one of the founders of Dadaism. Nicolae Grigorescu (1838–1907) and Ion Andreescu (1850–82) were leading painters, as was Theodor Aman (1831–91), a modern artist and founder of the School of Fine Arts in Bucharest. Sculpture was greatly advanced by Constantin Brâncusi (1876–1957). Perhaps the greatest names Romania has given to the musical world are those of the violinist and composer Georges Enescu (1881–1955), known for his Romanian Rhapsodies, and the pianist Dinu Lipatti (1917–50). A prominent tennis player is Ilie Nastase (1946–94); gymnast Nadia Comaneci (b.1961) won three gold medals at the 1976 Olympics.

In 2002, the National Library, in Bucharest, held over 8.8 million volumes. In 1997, the country had over 2,950 public libraries holding a total collection of 50.5 million volumes. The largest of the latter are the university libraries at Bucharest, Iasi, and Cluj-Napoca, holding 1.4, 3.0, and 3.6 million volumes, respectively.

Romania has some 400 museums. Bucharest is home to many of the most important museums, including the National History Museum of Romania, the National Museum of Art, and the newer Historical Museum of Bucharest (founded in 1984) and Cotroceni National Museum (1991), featuring Romanian fine art, architecture, and decorative art.

Also in the capital are the Cecilia and Frederick Storck Museum, highlighting the works of Karl Storck, a great Romanian sculptor, and his family, also prominent artists; the Curteo Veche Museum, featuring archaeological exhibits and housed in a 15th-century palace; and the Museum of Romanian Literature.

There were 3.7 million main line telephone subscribers in 1997 and a 1999 report includes an additional 645,500 mobile cellular phones in use. The telephone system was one of the worst in Europe, with a penetration level of only around 14%—as low as 3 to 4% in some areas. In 1997, the country announced plans to begin privatizing the state telecommunications company, Rom Telecom. As of 2000, however, about 640,000 were still on the waiting list for service, with waits lasting an average of 3 years. As of 1998, there were 40 AM and 202 FM radio broadcasting stations. A 1995 report indicated there were 48 television stations. In 2000 there were 334 radios and 381 television sets for every 1,000 people. The same year there were only about 31 personal computers in use for every 1,000 people. There were 38 Internet service providers in 2000 with 800,000 Internet users in 2001.

The leading daily newspapers (with 2002 circulation figures) are Evenimentul Zilei (Events of the Day, 200,000 ); Adevarul de Cluj (Truth of Cluj, 200,000); Romania Libera ( Free Romania , 100,000); Adevarul ( Truth , 85,000); and Libertatea ( Liberty , 75,000).

Though the constitution provides for freedom of expression and prohibits censorship, it is illegal to "defame" the country. Journalists are prosecuted under this law and sentenced to prison terms.

Inadequate housing has been a serious problem since World War II. Romanian housing suffered from the 1940 earthquake, war damage, neglect, and inadequate repair and maintenance after the war. An increase in the urban population caused by industrialization and emphasis on capital construction exacerbated the problem. Since 1965, the government has encouraged private construction by state support in the form of credits and expertise. However, an uncertain economy means that homeownership is too expensive for most citizens and maintenance for existing properties has been poor.

In 1999, the total housing stock was at about 7.88 million units, serving a population of about 22.46 million people. Most dwellings were detached houses of two or three rooms. The vast majority of all residential units are in serious disrepair. Overcrowding is common and access to basic amenities of piped water and sanitation facilities is still somewhat limited.

For the year 2000, adult illiteracy was estimated at 1.8% (males, 0.9%; females, 2.7%). In 1948, the government established compulsory education for at least four years in rural areas and for seven years in urban areas, with the hope that the seven-year school would be general. A decree of 30 September 1961 provided for the transition to an eight-year general, compulsory, and free education for children between 7 and 15 years of age; since 1968, the compulsory span has lengthened to 10 years. According to the Education Law of 1978, Romania's educational system consists of preschool (ages three–six), primary school (grades one–four), gymnasium (grades five–eight), lyceum or college in two steps (each consisting of two years), vocational schools and schools for foremen, higher education, and postgraduate education. The number of years of primary school was reduced from eight to four in 1989, and the number of years of secondary school was correspondingly increased from four to eight. As of 1999, public expenditure on education was estimated at 4.4% of GDP.

In 1997, there were 6,188 primary schools with 1,405,308 students and a total teaching staff of 71,829. Student-to-teacher ratio stood at 20 to 1. At the secondary level in 1997, students numbered 2,212,090, and teachers totaled 175,958. The pupil-teacher ratio at the primary level was estimated at 19 to 1 in 1999. In the same year, 93% of primary-school-age children were enrolled in school, while 76% of those eligible attended secondary school. Institutions of higher learning had 263,310 students and 26,310 teachers in 1997.

Admission to an advanced institution depends on a variety of factors, including the student's social background. Over half the students receive government assistance. Yearly quotas are established by the Ministry of Education according to manpower needs. Students in some fields must first complete six months of practical work in industry or agriculture.

In 1959, the Romanian Victor Babes University (founded 1919) and the János Bolyai University (1945) for Hungarian minority students, both in Cluj-Napoca, were merged into the Babes-Bolyai University in order to strengthen "socialist patriotism." There are six other universities—in Bucharest (founded in 1864), Brasov (1971), Craiova (1966), Galati (1948), Iasi (1860), and Timisoara (1962).

Like the other formerly Communist countries, Romania has emphasized polytechnic education in recent years. This "link of education with life" in the early grades means studying practical subjects; however, beginning in the upper grades there are work programs, often directly in enterprises, in workshops, or on collective farms, depending on the locality.

The Ministry of Labor and Social Solidarity administers a social insurance system. Social security covers all wage earners, while a voluntary system covers farmers. Old-age pensions are granted at age 65 for men and at 60 for women. Those engaged in hazardous or arduous work are eligible for retirement earlier. The program is funded by contributions from employers and employees, with deficits covered by the government. Workers who do not meet the conditions of duration of employment at retirement age are provided with social assistance. Survivors' benefits are payable to the spouse, father and mother, and brothers and sisters who are dependents of the deceased, and to children up to age 16. Workers' compensation and unemployment insurance are also provided.

All residents are entitled to medical care. Families with children under age 16 receive family allowances and a birth grant for each child. In addition to state social insurance, other schemes cover members of artisans' cooperatives, the clergy, and the professions.

The constitution guarantees equal pay for equal work, but women are still concentrated in low-paying professions. Few women are in senior management positions in the private sector. Women also face considerable employment discrimination in Romania's harsh economic climate and suffer from a higher rate of unemployment than do men. Violence against women, including rape, is a serious problem. It is difficult to bring rape cases to trial because the victim's testimony is not considered sufficient evidence; medical evidence and witnesses are required. Domestic abuse is widespread.

Ethnic Hungarians are the largest minority and are subject to discrimination. The Roma population continues to be harassed, and there are reports of anti-Semitic activity. Human rights are generally respected although there were continued reports of the mistreatment of detainees. The government has improved prison conditions and instituted vocational training, but prisons are still overcrowded.